Vipers Reshuffle Roster
January 24, 2011 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release
MCALLEN, TEXAS - The defending NBA Development League champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers announced Monday that their parent club, the Houston Rockets have recalled point guard Ishmael Smith (6-0, 175, Wake Forest), and that the Vipers have acquired center Connor Atchley (6-10, 225, Texas) from the Iowa Energy for power forward Stanley Robinson (6-9, 210, UConn), who was re-acquired earlier in the day.
The Vipers have also waived center Mickell Gladness (6-11, 212, Alabama A&M).
Assigned on January 17, Smith played in four games (one start) with the Vipers, averaging 12.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.8 steals in 31.8 minutes per game. He shot 43.1% (22-for-51) from the field, 30% (3-for-10) from behind the arc and 50% (4-for-8) from the foul line. He scored a career-high 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting against the Maine Red Claws on January 19 and finished by dishing out a career-high 10 assists to go with a career-high three steals against the Dakota Wizards on January 22.
"Ishmael had an effective stay with the Vipers as he was able to continue his development in games. There is nothing like a game setting for a young point guard to continue to work on his craft, especially in terms of running a team and being an initiator on defense. We were able to take advantage of a key stretch of Vipers games for him to participate in and look forward to the next period where he can come back down and continue his work with our Vipers coaches," said Vipers General Manager Gersson Rosas, who is also the Rockets Vice President of Player Personnel.
Smith is averaging 3.1 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 12.9 minutes in 24 games (three starts) for the Rockets.
Atchley is averaging 5.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 17.1 minutes in 19 games (13 starts). He is shooting 43.6% (34-for-78) from the field and 87.1% (27-for-31) from the free throw line. He scored a season-high 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting in 27 minutes vs. Sioux Falls on December 1. Atchley is in his second year in the NBA Development League. He split last season between Dakota and Iowa, averaging 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 41 games (13 starts). For his career, Atchley is averaging 6.1 points 3.7 rebounds and 16.5 minutes in 60 games (26 starts).
Atchley's best play came in the playoffs with the Energy last year, when he averaged 10.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in six games and starts.
"Connor is a versatile big that fits our style of play with his shooting and size, which help address some of our team needs. He is a guy we would like to get a closer look at in our environment and we are glad to add him to our team. We feel like he has an opportunity to come in and get better by working with our coaches in order to help our team," Rosas said.
Atchley played for the Sacramento Kings during NBA Training Camp, scoring two points, while hitting 1-of-3 shots, with three rebounds (two offensive) in eight minutes over the course of three games. Atchley played for the Kings during the NBA Summer Leauge in Las Vegas, averaging 3.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. He also played for the New Jersey Nets during the Orlando Pro Summer League, averaging 7.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 22.2 minutes per game. Atchley also played for the Golden State Warriors during the 2009 NBA Summer League and then in Turkey before joining the NBA Development League.
Atchley's best season with the Longhorns came as a junior during the 2007-08 season, when he averaged 9.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and a Big 12-best 2.1 blocks per game. He was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team, the Big 12 All-Improved team and the Academic All-Big 12 First Team.
The 23-year old was born in Houston and grew up in Clear Lake.
Robinson averaged 9.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 10.3 minutes in three games off the bench before getting waived due to a right leg injury on December 16.
Gladness averaged 3.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 19 games (six starts).
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. College
10 Terrel Harris SF 6-5 190 Oklahoma State
11 Jerel McNeal SG 6-3 200 Marquette
15 Patrick Sullivan PF 6-9 215 S.E. Louisiana
18 Matt Janning SG 6-4 198 Northeastern
21 Richard Roby SG 6-6 210 Colorado
23 Stanley Asumnu SF 6-5 220 Tennessee
32 Mouhammad Faye PF 6-9 215 SMU
34 Connor Atchley C 6-10 225 Texas
50 Jeff Adrien C 6-7 245 UConn
Head Coach Chris Finch (Franklin & Marshall)
Assistant Coaches Paul Mokeski (Kansas)
Jai Steadman (Nebraska)
Johan Roijakkers (ELE College)
Ath. Trainer/Strength & Conditioning Coach Joe Resendez (UT-Pan American)
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NBA G League Stories from January 24, 2011
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- Red Claws Unveil Larry Bird Bobblehead - Maine Celtics
- Vipers Reshuffle Roster - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- Energy Acquire Marqus Blakely & Stanley Robinson in Separate Trades - Iowa Wolves
- Dakota's Chris Johnson Signs with Portland - Dakota Wizards
- Dakota's Chris Johnson Signs with Portland - G League
- Iowa's Curtis Stinson Named NBA Development League Performer of the Week - G League
- NBA D-League Daily Developments - G League
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